My guide to get from Chiang Mai to Savannakhet for a multi-entry non o marriage visa with help from everyone on Thai Visa

[tstcman]

How to get the Non-O-ME VISA from Savannakhet when coming from Chiang Mai  

 

Going via BUS:

·         Get a bus from Chiang Mai to Mukdahan for about 700 Baht, leaves at 4-7 PM from Arcade and arrives in Mukdahan about 9 AM the following morning, although you will have to change bus in Koen Kaen and stay there for an hour.

·         Get your tickets from the Chiang Mai Arcade terminal 3 from next to the Green bus kiosk.

·         Then get a bus from Mukahan to Sananaket for 50 Baht

OR

Going via Airplane:

·         Air Asia from Chiang Mai to Khon Kaen - 7:15 am for around 1,000bht depending when you book.

·         Khon Kaen airport bus to the bus station is 320 baht and the trip is about 45 mins.

·         Mad Van from Khon Kaen Bus Station 3 to Mukdahan, 240bht and the trp is about 3 hours.

·         Mukdahan bus station to Savannakhet bus station 50bht, stops and collects at all immigration booths.

Add on …

If after you pass through Lao immigration and the bus is already gone, get a Tuk Tuk around 100-150 Baht.
 

Hotels close to Thai Consulate:

Avalon Hotel, new, and clean, very friendly staff. Price around 700 to 800 Baht depending where you book online.
It's located about 10-15 min walk from the Thai Consulate and has plenty of nice little restaurants.
 

OR

 

Joli Guesthouse costs 13 USD a night this includes breakfast

 

Coming back to Thailand:

·         Take a tuk tuk from the Thai Consulate to the border, then after you finish with Lao immigration, buy a bus ticket to Mukdahan station.
 

At the Mukdahan bus station:

The overnight bus to Chiang Mai is about 750 baht, you change buses at Khon Kaen bus station.

Best to buy your ticket as you are heading to the Thai Consulate as the bus fills up when heading home.

Heads Up ….

You will need to Stay 2 nights in Suvannakhet,

The Second day is when you collect your passport, you can walk to bus station if you wish.

The Suvanakhet bus station to Mukdahan is 50 baht, and it stops and collects people all the way.

 

Total Visa Run Cost:

Between 10,000 to 15,000 baht including the 1-year Non-O-ME VISA, take $35/$40 USD (new unmarked bills) for the Laos VISA or 1,800 Baht from the immigration office.

 

Bus from Chiang Mai to Mukdahan               700 Baht

Bus from Mukahan to Sananaket                 50 Baht

Laos VISA                                                  1,800 Baht

Tuk Tuk to Lao immigration                         150 Baht

Hotel by Consulate                                     800 Baht Per Night

Thai 1-year Non-O-ME VISA                         5,000 Baht

Bus from Mukahan to Chiang Mai                 750 Baht

 
 

[glegolo]

Many thanks will keep your thoughts...

 

glegolo

[Paul Laycock1]

Lao visa is 1,500 Baht not 1,800.

[BritManToo]

15 hours ago, tstcman said:

Khon Kaen airport bus to the bus station is 320 baht

Airport bus is 20bht not 320bht.

[BritManToo]

15 hours ago, tstcman said:

If after you pass through Lao immigration and the bus is already gone, get a Tuk Tuk around 100-150 Baht

Or wait for the next bus, ticket is still valid.

[Zendo]

I do it by car.. nice road trip !!!

 

As Avalon is often full, we booked at Joli guesthouse but when arriving with the kids we just had a "sorry, but your rooms have been given" ;(

 

But that was Luck in fact, we ended up on SenSabai in front of Mékong, best situation with food around, much more than around avalon.. night food market, plenty of bars and café and the bank next door. Swimming pool not far on the Spa nearby.

[connda]

Geez BritManToo.  That step-by-step guide looks, humm, vaguely familiar.  Almost like it has your signature on it, but without your signature.  ????

 

BritManToo supplied the body of the step-by-step and the OP added clothing to keep it warm even if he didn't cite the primary source and credit BritManToo.  So I will. <applause>

Overall, nice useful collaborative effort to make this guide for future travelers to Savannakhet seeking a MEMV. 

Although the money-in-the-bank route works for me now, the winds of fate are fickle.  At the end of the day this may be the way to stay in Thailand with my Thai family of 12 years, although I still think I'd go to Vientiane for the SEMV and obtain reentry permits locally as needed for the 90 day border runs to Mae Sai (or wherever).  Mrs. Connda has family in Udon Thani so the road trip by car would be a nice, scenic vacation, plus I like Vientiane.  Neat French colonial era city.

 

[ubonjoe]

27 minutes ago, connda said:

At the end of the day this may be the way to stay in Thailand with my Thai family of 12 years, although I still think I'd go to Vientiane for the SEMV and obtain reentry permits locally as needed for the 90 day border runs to Mae Sai (or wherever). 

Can you explain how you could do that with a single entry non-o visa that only allows one 90 day entry. A re-entry permit would only keep the remainder of the 90 day entry valid when you enter the country.

[sanemax]

2 hours ago, Paul Laycock1 said:

Lao visa is 1,500 Baht not 1,800.

Or 1150 Baht , if paying in US $ (35)

 

[BritManToo]

18 minutes ago, sanemax said:

Or 1150 Baht , if paying in US $ (35)

 

Price also depends on nationality.

[freedomnow]

Jeez - book a domestic flight in advance vs the 'dance with death' overnight buses.

 

Savannakhet will drive most to drink...it's an armpit of a town ....luckily Beer Lao seems to be the least headache-y beer in South-east Asia.

 

Wish they would develop the old quarter a bit more where the entry point by ferry used to be, the potential is there.

I think they will tie up the multi O soon enough, as its the cheapest route for married foreigners to continue staying here.

This sub-forum is a crib sheet for immi. to do counter measures, I'm sure of it.

[connda]

6 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

Can you explain how you could do that with a single entry non-o visa that only allows one 90 day entry. A re-entry permit would only keep the remainder of the 90 day entry valid when you enter the country.

I've learned so much from this tread!  I now have a handy step-by-step travel guide to Savannakhet for a MEMV. 

[tstcman]

10 hours ago, connda said:

Geez BritManToo.  That step-by-step guide looks, humm, vaguely familiar.  Almost like it has your signature on it, but without your signature.  ????

 

BritManToo supplied the body of the step-by-step and the OP added clothing to keep it warm even if he didn't cite the primary source and credit BritManToo.  So I will. <applause>

Overall, nice useful collaborative effort to make this guide for future travelers to Savannakhet seeking a MEMV. 

Although the money-in-the-bank route works for me now, the winds of fate are fickle.  At the end of the day this may be the way to stay in Thailand with my Thai family of 12 years, although I still think I'd go to Vientiane for the SEMV and obtain reentry permits locally as needed for the 90 day border runs to Mae Sai (or wherever).  Mrs. Connda has family in Udon Thani so the road trip by car would be a nice, scenic vacation, plus I like Vientiane.  Neat French colonial era city.

 

Looks like forgot To add who I got a lot of the info from, I did add a side note when I posted on Facebook group. Sorry , Britmantoo and ubon joe . I got most of my info for this from the question I posted this week here .